Larkham confident of playing in Dunedin test

SYDNEY - Australia first five-eighths Stephen Larkham said he is confident of returning for next month's Tri-Nations test against the All Blacks following an arm injury.

Larkham missed Australia's victory in the third and deciding test against the British and Irish Lions in Sydney on July 14 after injuring a nerve in his arm and was also unavailable for last week's 20-15 loss against South Africa in Pretoria.

The Wallabies' next Tri-Nations test is against the All Blacks in Dunedin on August 11 and Larkham said he would take part in a training camp starting on Saturday in a bid to prove his fitness.

"I'll definitely go back into camp on Saturday and I'm pretty confident I'll be right to play as long as there are no setbacks," Larkham was quoted as saying by Australian Associated Press.

"My arm is about 95 per cent when I move it in certain directions but strength-wise it's 100 per cent."

An Australian Rugby Union spokesman told Reuters: "We'll be naming a (training) squad tomorrow but it would be safe to say Larkham is in it."

The Wallabies will name their team on August 8 and fly to New Zealand on August 9 for the test against the All Blacks, the spokesman said.

- REUTERS